Macro Asilo Opens in Rome with Community-Driven Program

On September 30, 2018, the Macro Asilo, the new incarnation of Rome's Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, opened under the direction of Giorgio De Finis for 15 months. The museum abandons traditional exhibitions for a daily program of events, workshops, installations, and performances managed by artists. The program includes 250 artists creating works in on-site ateliers, 400 video artworks (one per day), 50 artist rooms, 100 words x 10 meetings = 1000 lessons (dictionary of the contemporary), 60 Saturday evening concerts, 180 lectures, and 900 self-portraits. The space has been completely rethought with free movement through themed areas, including a forum hall displaying a selection from the collection. The opening featured Michelangelo Pistoletto in dialogue with De Finis, a concert by Alex Mendizabal, Adrian Paci's video 'The Guardians', and artist rooms by Piero Mottola and Ria Lussi. The museum also launches 'L'APPELLO', a self-mapping of Rome's art community. Other spaces include the Stanza delle parole for seminars and debates, Project Rooms for installations and performances, ateliers where artists work publicly, and an auditorium hosting lectures and self-portrait presentations. Notable participants include artists Tommaso Cascella, Danilo Bucchi, Gianfranco Notargiacomo, Pietro Ruffo, Fausto Delle Chiaie, Pablo Echaurren, and Cesare Pietroiusti. The museum is managed by Azienda Speciale Palaexpo since January 1, 2018.